Pubdate: Wed, 21 Feb 2001
Source: Corpus Christi Caller-Times (TX)
Copyright: 2001 Corpus Christi Caller-Times
Address: P.O. Box 9136, Corpus Christi, TX 78469-9136
Feedback: http://www.caller.com/commcentral/email_ed.htm
Website: http://www.caller.com/
Author: Bill Straub

DRUG CERTIFICATION MAY END SOON

WASHINGTON - The Bush administration is hinting that it will soon seek
an end to the certification process that determines which nations are
cooperating with the United States in the war on drugs.

The process has long been a bone of contention between Washington and
allies like Mexico, who find it insulting. Certification was one of the
topics discussed during a five-hour meeting between President Bush and
Mexican President Vicente Fox at the Mexican leader's San Cristobal
ranch last week.

At the time, Bush acknowledged that the system, which can lead to the
imposition of trade sanctions against nations that don't cooperate, is
in need of review.

"I believe there is a movement in the country to review all the
certification process," Bush told reporters after the talks. "I'm
certainly going to take the message back to the members of Congress that
I firmly believe that President Fox will do everything in his power to
root out the drug lords and to halt drug trafficking as best as he
possibly can."

Aides say Bush feels comfortable ending the certification process in
part because of the esteem in which he holds Fox. Past administrations
have been wary about giving Mexico and other Latin American countries a
free hand because of fears about official corruption within the ranks of
law enforcement. But Bush said last week that he trusts the Mexican
leader and feels sure that the Fox government will do what it can to
waylay the drug trade.

Speaking last Saturday in his weekly radio address, Fox expressed
confidence that the U.S. government will kill certification and replace
it with a joint, cooperative approach involving officials at the highest
levels.

Fox said he and Bush agreed to develop a cross-border program, to be
reviewed twice a year, by both countries.

Bush laid a great deal of the responsibility for controlling drug
trafficking at the feet of the United States.

"The main reason why drugs are shipped through Mexico to the United
States is because United States citizens use drugs," Bush said. "And our
nation must do a better job of educating our citizenry about the dangers
and evils of drug use."
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